Fashion and Style Lookbook: Healthy Monday :How Your Smart Phone Affects Your ...

Fashion and Style Lookbook: Healthy Monday :How Your Smart Phone Affects Your ...: We tend to hold devices closer than printed materials when reading, a new study suggests. This difference could affect vision correction, an...

Healthy Monday :How Your Smart Phone Affects Your Eyes.

We tend to hold devices closer than printed materials when reading, a new study suggests.

This difference could affect vision correction, and optometrists are now gauging visual demands based on how we use smartphones and other new technologies, the study said.

Researchers asked 129 smartphone users to demonstrate how they would hold their mobile device while reading a text message or a typical Internet page. The participants wore their usual glasses or contact lenses while reading.

The researchers also evaluated the size of the text on the devices, in order to determine whether the working distance at which users held their phones was appropriate for the font size used on the devices.

The findings showed that the "working distance," which is how far away a person holds what she's reading to comfortably view the text, varies depending on what the person is looking at on their phone. For example, researchers found that the average working distance for text messages was 14.2 inches (36 centimeters), whereas the average working distance for viewing a webpage was 12.6 inches (32 cm).

But those were both closer than the typical working distance of 15.7 inches (40 cm) used when reading printed text, such as a newspaper.

Holding smart phones at such short distances can place increased demands on the eyes' ability to correct for distance, which is known as accommodation. Short distances can also increase demand on the coordination between eyes, or vergence, compared with the distances typically used when reading printed text.

Smart phones "may present a variety of visual demands that are significantly different in terms of working distances, gaze angle, and text sizes," the study said.

Over time, this increased demand on eyes can lead to conditions such as eyestrain and headaches, the researchers said.

Healthy Monday :Ways Science Proves Kindness Is Good For Your Health

1/ EMPATHY RELEASE OXYTOCIN

A study from Claremont Graduate University found that empathy towards strangers was associated with a 47% increase in oxytocin from baseline. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the empathy-oxytocin response was shown to be stronger in women than in men.

So what is oxytocin? It's a hormone that's responsible for all sorts of things, including bonding and trust, it's often called the 'love hormone'. Studies have found that this is the hormone surging round the brain when you take ecstasy.

Listening to someone else's problems seems like a much better way to get a hit...

2/ SHARING YOUR FOOD MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD

What's better than eating a slice of cake? Sharing it.

A study from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology found that people don't feel such guilt eating something 'bad' when they're doing it with someone else.

Psychologist Edward Abramson explained: 'You get to feel virtuous that you are not having the whole thing on your own. And you’re doing a good deed for a friend.'

3/ IT REDUCES ANXIETY

University of British Columbia researchers found that people who had high levels of anxiety saw an increase in positive moods when they did random acts of kindness for others.

It also led to an increase in relationship satisfaction and a decrease in social avoidance.

4/ VARIETY KEEPS IT INTERESTING

Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at the University of California found that being kind once a week increased people's personal happiness.

She also found that the effects were increased when the acts were varied.

5/ SOCIAL SUPPORT HELPS YOU LOSE WEIGHT
A study from Northwestern University found that the less people in weight loss communities interact and support others, the less weight they lose themselves.

The research found that those who connected with more than 10 people lost the most weight (more than 8% of their body weight over six months).

Moral of the story? Be kind to each other, it's good for everyone involved.

Credit Womens Health

Fashion and Style Lookbook: How To Make A Matching Clutch From Your Fabric Or ...

Fashion and Style Lookbook: How To Make A Matching Clutch From Your Fabric Or ...: Credit:Lisa Pullano

How To Make A Matching Clutch From Your Fabric Or Gele(Tutorial)

Credit:Lisa Pullano 

Fashion and Style Lookbook: Health Monday:Should You Cut Out Bread To Stop Blo...

Fashion and Style Lookbook: Health Monday:Should You Cut Out Bread To Stop Blo...: Is eating bread giving you bloating and other digestive symptoms? If so, you could be "sensitive" to wheat. Cutting out bread ...

Health Monday:Should You Cut Out Bread To Stop Bloating?

Is eating bread giving you bloating and other digestive symptoms? If so, you could be "sensitive" to wheat. Cutting out bread or changing the type you eat may help.

More and more of us claim to suffer from a wheat allergy, so we shun bread and other wheat-based foods like pasta and cereals.

Genuine food allergy is, in fact, rarely to blame, say experts. But wheat sensitivity (also known as wheat intolerance) or simply trouble digesting wheat is increasingly common.
Bread-related gut symptoms


The health problems caused by wheat

There are three key health problems caused by wheat:
Wheat allergy – reactions usually begin within minutes and include itching, sneezing and wheezing. See your GP for referral to an NHS allergy clinic.
Coeliac disease – is a condition where the intestine lining can't absorb and is damaged by gluten-containing foods including wheat, barley, oats and rye. See your GP for a blood test.
Wheat sensitivity – symptoms like bloating, cramps, diarrhoea and sickness come on quite slowly, usually hours after eating wheat. There’s no diagnostic test.
What to do if wheat triggers digestive symptoms

If your symptoms are severe and long-lasting, especially if you have blood in you stools  (poo),vomiting or painful stomach cramps, see your doctor to rule out a medical condition.

If you have bloating or other minor symptoms after eating bread, Dr Skypala recommends that you try an elimination diet. This is where you completely cut out wheat from your diet for four weeks, then bring it back in gradually to see if symptoms reappear.

"When you bring wheat-based foods back in, I recommend trying Weetabix or pasta first for a few days before starting on bread. It’s better to start with wheat in a more pure form, as bread has so many other ingredients," Dr Skypala says.
Is it wheat intolerance or sensitivity?

If your symptoms return, it confirms you’re sensitive to wheat and will also show you which foods are especially troublesome. Some people may only have problems with pasta, for example, while others are fine until they eat bread.

If you are sensitive to wheat, or you have trouble digesting it, the main way to relieve your symptoms is to embark on a wheat-free or partially wheat-free diet.

Foods that contain wheat
Bread
Pasta
Cereals
Couscous
Cakes and pastries
Biscuits
Doughnuts
Hydrolysed vegetable protein (HVP)
Beer
Soy sauce
Wheat-free foods

These foods are a great alternative to wheat-based ones:
Porridge,
Rice Krispies and corn flakes
Buckwheat pasta
Quinoa
Source :NHS UK

How to Find Your Cheekbones for Perfect Makeup Application

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes are all easy to find. But the location of your cheekbones can be a bit more difficult to find, "Sweep the product along the general cheek region" is something no makeup artist says ever. Knowing exactly how to highlight your cheekbones is essential to any beauty regimen — a little contour underneath can streamline a face, a little too much allover and you'll look overdone.

Below are 3 steps for you to identify your cheekbones so you know exactly where to apply bronzer, blush, contour, and highlighter.

Step 1: Take a brush and draw it from the outside corner of your mouth to your earlobe. This is where your cheekbone begins.

Step 2: Now take the same principle from the first step and draw the brush to the fleshy part right above the earlobe. This is where your cheekbone ends.

Step 3: Now, a map on where to apply bronzer, blusher, contour, and luminizer (not necessarily all at once): Contour goes slightly underneath your cheekbones. Bronzer goes in the hollow of your cheekbones, slightly above where you would place contour (if you choose to use it). Blush goes in the apples of the cheeks, the sections that goes up when you smile for an instant brightening effect.

Credit:BM Pro

Fashion and Style Lookbook: 5 Makeup Mistakes That Are Making You Look Old

Fashion and Style Lookbook: 5 Makeup Mistakes That Are Making You Look Old: We're all on the quest to look and feel our most youthful and fresh—and in the beauty world, there are many creams, facials, and procedu...

5 Makeup Mistakes That Are Making You Look Old

We're all on the quest to look and feel our most youthful and fresh—and in the beauty world, there are many creams, facials, and procedures to aid us on this mission. But something as simple as the way you apply your makeup can also have a great effect on how young (or old) you look, and sometimes, it's a very significant effect.




MISTAKE # 1: Wearing foundation that does not match your skin color.


Many women end up looking they have a floating head or they are wearing a mask because their foundation does not match their face and neck. When you go too light it makes your skin appear flat and lifeless. Instead of natural, it will look like the makeup is just sitting on your skin, which can add years to your face. But if you go too dark, you are not highlighting your features, but dragging them down and adding a dullness and heaviness that is just as aging.

In order to get the right color, when testing out a foundation, do not blend it in too much. Simply tap it on your face from the top of your cheekbone to the bottom of your jawline and try to not go lighter or darker than your actual skin. If you are tan on your neck and body, you can bring that color into your face with a bronzer, without having to use a foundation that's too light. The goal is to connect your skin by blending it evenly across.


MISTAKE # 2: Choosing a lipstick that is too dark.


As you age, you lose definition in your lips, so to appear more youthful, you'll want to wear a lipstick that adds fullness. A dark color does just the opposite, making your lips look smaller, less plump, and less highlighted. Instead, choose something in a mauve or pink tone. Adding a layer of gloss is helpful as well. Many women feel like they are too old to wear lip gloss, but a shiny finish will actually add a youthful plumpness.


Don't worry, this doesn't mean that you're forbidden from trying out all the berry and wine hues that are so popular for fall. But if you decide to go dark and are concerned about looking older, stay away from something with a heavier texture or matte finish because it will stay flat on your lips. Opt for a sheer and hydrating formula or a lip stain.


MISTAKE # 3: Only lining the bottom of your eyes with liner.


"So many women I talk to say 'I only line the bottom,'" Soane told us. "And when I ask them why, they say because 'It's easier.' It's tragic; top liner is mandatory." Though it may be easier to apply eyeliner on the bottom, only doing so will drag your features down and make your eyes appear smaller and your overall appearance seem older. Applying eyeliner on the top as well will open your eyes up and brighten your face. But be sure not to make the liner too thick, which can also be aging.


When applying eyeliner, try to get the product as close to your lash line as possible, so it appears to be an extension of your eyelashes. Start at the outer corner and work your way in along the top lash, then do the same for the bottom, but apply the line a little thinner than the top. Make sure that the bottom and top lines connect at the corner of the eye and add a touch of dark shadow to the bottom of the eye to soften the look.


MISTAKE #4: Applying the wrong shade of blush too low on your face.


Many women do not wear a shade of blush that adds youthfulness to their face. Some choose a brown color because they think they are adding definition and contouring, but it ends up looking muddy, dull, and like the makeup is just sitting on your skin. Other women often choose a product that is too soft in color, which can wash you out and age you as well.


To find the right shade, pinch your cheeks and try to match the natural color that you get when you actually blush. When applying, start at the height of the apple of your cheek and blend it up and back. Some people apply blush on the bottom of the cheekbone, but you want to place it higher to define and lift your features.


MISTAKE #5: Not adding color and defining your brows.

As you get older, your eyebrows get thinner, or simply from years of over-plucking, they just don't grow back. Not filling them in with a pencil or brow powder can leave you washed out and looking older, while a full brow will lift the face, define your features, and create an overall youthful appearance.

To pick a brow product, look for ones that are the same shade as your hair. If you are blonde, choose something that matches your roots; for silver or white hair, go for a soft gray tone; if you are brunette or redhead, try a mahogany or sable. For those with fair to medium skin, steer clear of anything that is red-based, and if you have a darker skin tone, choose something with warmth. Start by brushing your brows up and over. Then square the head of your brow off with the product and bring the color through the arch, all the way to where your brow would naturally end.

Credit: Elle

Healthy Monday:6 Essential Vitamins and Minerals

Dietary supplements are no joke. They're a must-have for awesome health, and chances are you're not getting enough.





Vitamins and minerals are essential to life—and we mean essential. Without them, we couldn't think or even breathe, much less digest food or walk the dog. But chances are you're not getting enough of the good stuff, and figuring out what you need is tricky business. We uncover the key nutrients young women should consume, plus which you should get from food and what's OK to buy in a bottle.

Vitamin A
Talk about your overachiever: This antioxidant boosts immune systems, improves vision, cuts risk of heart disease, and may slow skin aging. But, warns Michael Holick, Ph.D., M.D., author of The Vitamin D Solution, it can be toxic in large doses, so stick with the right amount.


Recommended daily dosage: 2,300 international units (IU)

Need a supplement? It's best to get A from a beta-carotene source, such as a large carrot or a cup of sliced cantaloupe

B Vitamins
The eight B vitamins help maintain metabolism, muscle tone, and a sharp mind, says Mary Ellen Camire, Ph.D., a nutrition professor at the University of Maine at Orono. Most important for young women is B9 (folic acid), which keeps red blood cells healthy and guards against cancer and birth defects.

Recommended daily folate dosage: 400 micrograms (mcg); 600 mcg if you're pregnant

Need a supplement? Probably not (unless you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant), particularly if you eat grains. Just one cup of most fortified breakfast cereals has all the daily B you need. Other options: whole-grain breads, asparagus, and beans.

Vitamin C
Despite its rep as a cold fighter, C has never been proven to prevent or cure the sniffles. But the antioxidant is believed to boost your immune system and help prevent heart disease, prenatal problems, and eye illnesses. It even helps wounds heal faster and fends off wrinkles.

Recommended daily dosage: 75 milligrams (mg)

Need a supplement? No, as long as you eat citrus fruits and vibrant veggies. A single orange is packed with nearly all of your daily C. So is one red pepper or a cup of broccoli.

Vitamin D
The vitamin du jour, D could be something of a wonder drug. Docs believe it can reduce your risk of breast cancer by as much as 50 percent, and it may offer protection from both ovarian cancer and diabetes. More happiness: D helps calcium absorption and plays a central role in muscle function.

Recommended daily dosage: 1,000 to 2,000 IU

Need a supplement? Most likely. Milk, orange juice, and salmon contain small amounts of D, but nowhere near enough.

Calcium
Two words: strong bones. "Women start losing bone density in their twenties," says Camire. "Calcium is your single best defense, and you should start taking it now." The mineral also helps build strong teeth and nourishes your nervous system.

Recommended daily dosage: 1,000 mg

Need a supplement? Yep. Yogurt, milk, and cheese do pack calcium, but not an ideal amount

Iron
Too little of this mineral can spell anemia (a lack of red blood cells) and a weakened immune system. Iron is also "particularly important for women with heavy periods," says Carol Haggans, R.D., a consultant for the National Institutes of Health.

Recommended daily dosage: 18 mg

Need a supplement? Maybe. You can get your fill from one cup of some breakfast cereals. But if you don't frequently munch the crunchy stuff—or iron-rich foods like red meat—you might want to pop a pill. Just talk to your doc first; too much can be harmful.

Credit:Woman's Health